It should be a great weekend with not one but two village garage sales this Saturday, the Elves have been saving their pennies ever since I last paid them. The weather is not set well so we will have to see what happens. I’ll update you next week as to what treasure was unearthed. I don’t want any ear muffs, suitcases full of clothes or caribou heads.

In this bulletin, even more about defects but in a good cause and a couple of spoofs to be aware of.

[For admin details for this newsletter, please scroll down to the end.]

1. EBAY NEWS – HERE’S A THOUGHT ABOUT DEFECTS

I was browsing through the new eBay defects criteria trying to distill it down into an easy-to-understand format that I can include in the next book, no mean task. Along the way I spotted this statement from eBay regarding neutral feedback:

“Our data shows that when a buyer leaves neutral Feedback, or a detailed seller rating of 3 for the item description means they weren’t satisfied with the transaction and they’re much less likely to buy again.”

Fair enough, I agree if a neutral is left then the buyer was not happy and sure they won’t be able to buy from me again as I block them straightaway. They also won’t be able to buy from anybody who now has a copy of my ‘blocked bidder list’.

I think eBay mean that the buyer is less likely to buy again from any seller on eBay, but checking through the feedback left for other sellers by my ‘unhappy’ customers are still buying and still unhappy.

I also wonder what is the purpose of ‘neutral’ feedback. Positive is great, neutral and negative are both defects so why have them? Buyers who are a little bit unhappy or felt that they received average service leave a neutral but this impacts on sellers in the same way as a negative. Why not have just either ‘good’ or ‘bad’?

Now here’s where you might be able to help with the new book. When posed with this question:

“If a buyer revises negative Feedback they’ve left for me, does this still count as a defect?”

eBay reply with:

“Yes. Our research has shown that even if the situation is made right by the seller, buyers have still had a negative experience on eBay and buyers in this situation are less like likely to shop on eBay again.”

Now I am not too bothered about feedback anymore and don’t ask buyers to revise feedback, I just block them. I wonder if they do buy again from eBay. Have you had a buyer revise a negative feedback and would you be willing to check if they went on to buy from eBay again? Let me know at the usual address.

It’s all good copy and helps fill some of the empty parts of the book.

2. A COUPLE OF QUICK SPOOFS

Just got an email scam today that I want to pass on to other ebayers. Very convincing, comes with all ebay logo’s etc, the only thing that exposes it as a scam is that it does not show an image of the item in question or description of it, which would be automated through the ebay system if it was genuine. You have to click a link (don’t do it) to “bring you to the item”.

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Hi there, I would like to know if you have shipped the item by now. I have sent you the payment 7 days ago and no response from you.
I will report you to PayPal and if you don’t answer in 24 hours i will contact your local authorities.
Please answer me and let me know if you have shipped my item by now !
-widefitshopuk

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There are the usual links to click (don’t do it) that are supposed to bring you to the item in question. Keep an eye out for this non-existent customer and delete permanently. I wonder who the local authorities are??? The next 24hrs could be difficult for me! Getting worried!?”

3. QUESTIONS BUYERS ASK

If you have received a bewildering question from a buyer please do send them in, it lifts the mood at HQ.

4. ASK MOLLY – SHOULD I TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY?

“Hi Molly,

I have received an email from PayPal about a buyer opening a “chargeback” with their card issuer, saying that they didn’t authorise a payment they made to me on 9 March.

I’ve checked out the buyer, who bought from me 2 sheets of Easter stickers. It was a straightforward transaction, I sent the stickers and haven’t had any other communication with the buyer – they haven’t left me any feedback either.

I contacted them yesterday about this chargeback to see if they would explain why they have opened it but I haven’t yet heard back from them.

I can’t imagine what documentation PayPal are expecting me to produce to support my case so I’m resolving myself to losing £5 out of my PayPal account.

My experience of PayPal is not that good, I always lose out when anything out of the ordinary occurs. They are great at processing money but not much use in the way of customer service or support for sellers when something goes wrong.

They lack backbone when dealing with card issuers and then have the gall to lump on a handling fee at the conclusion of the issue.

If you produced the customer in person at their offices who then signed in blood that they didn’t instigate the chargeback I still don’t think you would win. I hope I am wrong but, yes, be prepared to lose the money.

If you have a question about eBay or home working in general, please send it to me at the usual address. I will reply personally to every email I receive and, remember, there are FREE copies of my book available for the best questions, tips or stories.

– END NOTE –

“Really disappointed that instead of sending as you’ve said you’ve done, you’ve relisted exact same item. Very strange behaviour.”

You guessed it, I had two almost identical items, one sold then the second was listed. This opened case means that this buyer can never purchase from me again and I pick up another defect all because of a misunderstanding and a little direction to the buyer to open a case instead of send an e-mail.

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Molly a.k.a. Robert Pugh

At age 40 and after 24 long years working for the same company, many spent in the corporate sales division, Bob Pugh (aka Mollybol) realised he needed a change.
He began selling on eBay in January 2003, initially by clearing his house of unwanted items. With very little knowledge of computers and no experience of selling via the internet. The first few months proved to be a steep learning curve. But he soon became an established triple eBay Power Seller and has sold over 60,000 items.
Now, aged 47, he has retired from full time work, written a number of best-selling books about eBay and sells to generate an income as and when required.
He is also author of the free, weekly eBay Bulletin.